"There should be no concerns, no reason for pessimism and no basis for cynicism that Peja Stojakovic threatens to become the next Alonzo Mourning.

On the morning after a deal that wasn't made official until late Saturday, Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo made his first public comments, discussing a trade that clearly was geared to the future and spoke on the status of Stojakovic.

Long past his prime, Stojakovic had to waive a portion of a trade kicker for Colangelo to complete a five-player deal with New Orleans.

"It was significant,'' Colangelo said of the monetary inducement. "Enough that it wasn't a bad day for him."

At 33, Stojakovic hardly fits in with what Colangelo is attempting to do with these Raptors, who are going young, are trying to develop emerging talent and are providing every resource for these pieces to flourish.

Rather than rush into any judgment, Colangelo is being prudent in determining Stojakovic's role in Toronto.

"Nothing is pre-determined," Colangelo. "I've had conversation with Peja and his agent. They wanted to know what was in our agenda.

"Let's get him here, assess him and let's see if he can help this franchise. He could help mentoring, he could help us win a few games in the process."

As of yesterday, both Stojakovic and Jerryd Bayless, the two pieces Colangelo acquired from the Hornets in exchange for Jarrett Jack, Marcus Banks and David Andersen, were scheduled to arrive in town some time Sunday night.

Assuming they each clear their physical, which appears to be a formality, they should be available on Wednesday when the Philadelphia 76ers pay a visit to the ACC.

Maybe a player such as Stojakovic enjoys the city, enjoys playing in an up-tempo system and perhaps he even wouldn't mind serving as a mentor.

But eventually he will be moved because his future isn't as a Raptor, not when the future of the franchise amounts to clearing enough cap room for potential long-term gain and focusing on the present of developing talent.

Stojakovic has never come across as a punk, a role Mourning basically assumed when he refused to report years back when Vince Carter was traded to New Jersey."